Ice making machines



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR FRANCIS M RA MEI? F. M. RAVER ICE MAKING MACHINES TTOR Nov. 8, 1960 Filed April 7, 1958 ture 24.

United States Patent ICE MAKING MACHINES Francis M. Raver, Yoe, Pa., assignor to Borg- Warner Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Apr. 7, 1958, Ser. No. 726,765

7 Claims. (Cl. 62-347) This invention relates to machines for producing fragments of ice.

It is an object of the invention to provide in an ice fragment making machine a method and mechanism for distributing a traveling curtain of liquid in a circular path on a cylindrical ice forming element of the machine, the liquid being supplied to the distributor from stationary liquid supply mechanism.

3 It is a further object of the invention to provide in an ice fragment making machine an expeditious flow path for excess liquid from the ice forming element of the machine to a water sump for further returnjto the ice forming element.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an ice fragment making machine of the class described, which is easily and inexpensively fabricated and as sembled, and yet etliciently operates to perform its intended function.

The invention consists of the novel constructions, arrangements and devices to be hereinafter described and claimed for carrying out the above-stated objects and such other objects as will appear from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective of a cabinet housing the ice forming mechanism mounted on an ice receiving bin;

Fig. 2 is a perspective, partly diagrammatic, of the ice making machine and associated refrigerating mechanism, with parts of the machine broken away to better show details;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view in elevation of the ice making machine with parts thereof omitted for greater clarity; and

Fig, 4 is a sectional detail taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3, but on a larger scale.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Turning now to the drawings and particularly Fig. 1, an ice making machine indicated generally at is housed within a cabinet structure 11, including a front opening 12 for access to the ice making machine 10. A panel (not shown) is provided for closing the opening 12. Cabinet 11 is mounted on an ice bin 13 adapted to receive and store ice fragments made by the machine 10. Bin 13 includes an upper access opening 14 closed by a door 15, and a lower access opening 16 closed by a door 17. An ice chute 18 is spring-mounted in access opening 16 so that when door 17 is opened, chute 18 assumes the position as shown in Fig. 1 to prevent ice fragments from spilling through opening 16 onto the Four angle irons 19, 20, 21 and 22 are fixedly mounted within cabinet 11. Angle irons 19 and 20 receive and support a shelf structure 23, While angle irons 21 and 22 receive and support a similar but inverted shelf struc- Shelf structures 23 and 24 serve to support the ice making machine 10 within cabinet 11.

Patented Nov. 8, 1960,

The ice making machine 10 comprises a stationary, vertical shaft assembly 25 passing through shelf structures 23 and 24. A bracket 26 is mounted on shelf structure 23 and a bolt 27 passes through bracket 26 and the shaft assembly 25. A similar bracket 28 is mounted on shelf structure 24 and a bolt 29 passes through bracket 28 and the shaft assembly 25, Brackets 26 and 28, with their corresponding bolts 27 and 29, serve to non-rotatably maintain shaft assembly 25in proper position.

A vertical, substantially cylindrical, ice forming element 30 is non-rotatably mounted on shaft assembly 25. Ice forming element 30 has an annular refrigerant receiving space 31 formed in a vertical wall 32 thereof. Ice forming element 30 is supported at the top and bottom thereof by a plurality of spokes 33. Spokes 33 are suitably fastened to shaft assembly 25 and ice forming element 30, as by welding. Ice forming element 30 is also provided with a plate 34 closing the lower end thereof, which plate is provided with an aperture for the passage of shaft assembly 25 therethrough.

A refrigerating system is provided for supplying liquid refrigerant to the annular space 31 and takes the form of a suitable compressor 35, refrigerant condenser 36, and refrigerant receiver 37. Ice forming element 30, of course, acts as the evaporator of the refrigerating system.

A hot gas discharge line 38 connects the outlet of compressor 35 to the inlet of condenser 36. A hot liquid refrigerant line 39 joins the discharge of condenser 36 to the inlet of receiver 37. Receiver 37 and ice forming element 30 are connected by a liquid line 40, having refrigerant expansion means such as a capillary 41 therein. Liquid line 40 passes into the interior of shaft assembly 25 and through a wall thereof, and connects with the lower part of annular space 31. A cold gas line 42 leads from the upper part of annular space 31 backjto the inlet of compressor 35 by way of the interior of shaft assembly 25, as may clearly be seen in Fig. 3.

Means for removing liquid frozen on ice forming element 30 is provided, and takes the form of arotary wedge 43. Rotary wedge 43 is of the type shown in my Patent 2,308,541, and reference may be had to said patent for details thereof. However, for the purposes of my herein-disclosed invention, any means may be provided for removing liquid frozen to ice forming element 30, and would come within the scope of my herein-disclosed invention and appended claims.

Means must be provided for translating the rot wedge 43 about the outer surface of ice forming element 30. For this purpose, a pair of spiders 44 and 45 are mounted for rotation on shaft assembly 25. A plurality of braces 46, of which only three are shown, join spiders 44 and 45, and maintain the two in assembled relation. Spiders 44 and 45 are formed each with a flat surface 47 thereon for receiving a bracket 48 mounted thereto by way of bolts 49 (in Fig. 2, only the upper bracket has been shown for clarity). Brackets 48 serve to rotatably support rotary wedge 43, wedge journals 50 being received in brackets 48 for this purpose. The arrangement is such that the cutting edges of the wedge lie inclose proximity to the outer surface of ice forming element 30.

Means for rotating spides 44 and 45 are provided. For this purpose, spider 44 is formed with a hub 51 on the upper end thereof to which is attached a sprocket 52. An electric motor 53 is mounted on'shelf structure 23 and is provided with power from any suitable'source. Motor 53 drives a speed reduction mechanism 54 by way of a belt 55. Speed reduction mechanism 54 is similarly mounted on shelf structure 23. A shaft 56 extends down from speed reduction mechanism 54, passing through 'an aperture 57 formed in shelf structure 23, andv has a pinion 58' attached to the lower end thereof. Pinion'5 8 lies in a plane with sprocket 52 and serves to drive the same by way of a chain 59.

The liquid to be frozen on ice forming element 30 is supplied thereto by a discontinuous circular trough 60, attached by any suitable means to spider 44 for rotation therewith. Trough 60 is discontinuous at rotary wedge 43. An inspection of Fig. 2 reveals that trough 60 is provided with narrowed extensions 61 thereof, which pass behind the braces 4-6 adjacent rotary wedge 43'. As can be seen, two of the three braces 46 are mounted immediately adjacent the rotary wedge 43 since the point of greatest stress occurs at the rotary wedge.v Trough 60 is similarly narrowed in the vicinity of the third brace 46 so that it may pass therebehind.

A sump 62 is suitably supported beneath shaft assembly 25 by straps 63. Make up water is supplied thereto from any suitable source, such as a city supply, by way of a line 64. A float controlled valve 65 is positioned in line 64 and is operated by a float 66 to maintain a constant level of water within sump 62. A pump 67 removes water from sump 62 by way of a line 68, and discharges it through a stationary liquid supply line 69 into a stationary liquid distributor 70. It will be apparent that, if distributor 70 discharged directly into trough 60, some means would, of necessity, need be provided for discontinuing flow of water at the discontinuous portion of trough 60. To obviate this, distributor 70 discharges into a continuous circular trough 71, mounted for rotation with discontinuous trough 60, and supported thereon by way of a plurality of supporting webs 72. Continuous trough 71 has a plurality of apertures 73 formed through a lower wall thereof for deliverying water received therein to the discontinuous trough 60 with the apertures coinciding with the extent of the discontinuous trough 60; i.e., there are no apertures in that portion of trough 71 immediately above the omitted portion of trough 60 at the rotary wedge 43. Trough 60 receives its liquid, therefore, from trough 71 and distributes it on ice forming element 30 by way of apertures 74 formed in the lower wall of trough 60.

A tray 75 is non-rotatably mounted on shaft assembly 25 beneath the ice forming element 36 with the diameter thereof sufficiently greater than that of the ice forming element so that the excess water flowing over the outer surface of the ice forming element 30 falls into the tray 75 and is collected thereby.

An inspection of Figs. 3 and 4 reveals that shaft assembly 25 comprises an evaporator shaft portion '76, and a liquid passage portion 77. Liquid passage portion 77 is formed by inserting an arcuate shield 78 therein, forming a bore 79 and a bore 80. Bore 80 has the lower end thereof closed by a flange 81 integrally formed at the lower end of shield 78. Apertures 82 are provided through the wall of the shaft assembly 25 for communicating bore 79 with tray 75.

Bore 80 is communicated with the interior of the ice forming element 30 near the bottom plate 34 thereof, by way of apertures 83 formed through the wall of shaft assembly 25. A condensate drain trough 84 is non-rotatably mounted on shaft assembly 25 and apertures 85 communicate bore 80 with the drain trough 84.

The lower portion of the ice making machine is enclosed by an ice shield 86, held in position by straps 87 attached to condensate drain trough 84-, which ice shield acts to confine the ice fragments removed from ice forming element 30. Ice shield 86 has a pair of diametrically opposed apertures 88 therein through which support shelf 24 passes. An ice chute 89 is mounted between the braces 46, which bracket the rotary wedge 43. Ice chute 89 is rotated with braces 46 for guiding into bin 13 removed from ice forming element 30 by rotary wedge 43. Shelf structure 24 has openings 99 therein, through which theice fragments may pass as the ice chute. 89 is guided thereover.

Aserratedscraper 911 is attached by any suitable means to brace 46, as shown, scraper 91 running the full length of ice forming element 30.

Operation Compressor 35 is actuated to put the refrigerating system in operation. Refrigerant compressed by the com pressor 35 flows through hot gas line 38 to condenser 36 wherein it is condensed to a liquid. The liquid refrigerant then flows through line 39 to receiver 37. From receiver 37 the liquid flows through liquid line 40 to annular space 31' in ice forming element 30. In its passage through capillary 41, the pressure and corresponding temperature. of the liquid is reduced to a point sufficiently low to remove heat from ice forming element 30. The heat removed from ice forming element 30 vaporizes the liquid refrigerant. The vapor then flows through cold gas line 42 back to the inlet of compressor 35 to complete the cycle.

Motor 53 is energized to impart rotary movement to spiders 44 and 45 and the associated rotary wedge 43, together with troughs 60 and 71. Pump 67 is operated to deliver liquid from sump 62 to the trough 71. From trough 71 the liquid flows through the apertures 73 into discontinuous trough 60. The liquid is then distributed by apertures 74 of discontinuous trough 60 over the ice forming element 30 in such a manner as to cover the em tire surface, except that portion immediately adjacent rotary wedge 43. In eifect, the liquid must be supplied to the ice forming element 30 in the form of a traveling curtain. The liquid flowing over ice forming element 30 has its heat removed by the action of the cold refrigerant within the ice forming element and is thereby frozen to form what is, in effect, a continuous sheet of ice. The ice sheet in the vicinity of the rotary wedge 43 is in a' dry condition because of no water flow thereon, due to the fact that trough 60 is discontinuous at the rotary wedge 43. This serves to maintain the ice removed in a dry state for delivery into bin 13 and further prevents any liquid from flowing into the bin with the ice fragments.

It will be appreciated that, as spiders 44 and 45 are rotated, rotary wedge 43 is translated thereby about the outer surface of ice forming element 30, and is also free to rotate about its own axis by engagement of the cutting edges thereof with the ice sheet formed on the outer surface of ice forming element 317. For a further discussion of the ice removing effect of rotary wedge 43, reference may be had to my aforementioned Patent 2,308,541, which by reference is incorporated herein.

The effect of the rotary wedge 43 is to continuously remove portions of the ice sheet in the form of fragments of ice, which fragments then fall by gravity onto ice chute 89. Ice chute 89 permits the fragments to clear the condensate drain trough 84 and fall into the ice bin 13 for storage. Even though the bond between the ice sheet and the ice forming element 36 is broken by the rotary wedge 43, some of the fragments may not fall free of the ice forming element 30. These fragments are removed by the action of the scraper 91.

. Water flowing in excess over ice forming element 30, drains'into tray 75, flowing thence through apertures 82 and bore 79 into sump 62 for continuous recirculation by pump 67 to continuous trough 71.

During the ice making operation of the machine, condensate may form within the ice forming element 30. This condensate then flows through apertures 83 into bore from whence it flows into condensatev drain trough 84. The condensate flows from the drain trough 84, to the sewer by any suitable means (not shown).

As used herein, in both the specification and claims, the word water is used in a broad generic sense as specifying any liquid which, when subjected to the action of the refrigerant within the cylindrical ice forming 31$? ment 30, will be congealed thereon. It will be seen then that the word.water, as used herein, connotates a con.- gealable liquid. The term.ice, as. used herein,is,;there;-

ssua e fore, to be taken in its broad generic sense as defining the frozen or congealed liquid formed on the cylindrical ice forming element 30.

I wish it to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, except only insofar as the claims may be so limited, as it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made without departing from the principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In ice making apparatus, the combination of a vertical, stationary, substantially cylindrical ice forming element; stationary means for supplying water to be frozen on said ice forming element; means for distributing water to be frozen over the outer surface of said ice forming element in the form of a traveling curtain comprising, a discontinuous, substantially circular, water delivery trough mounted for rotation above said ice forming element, a continuous, substantially circular trough mounted above said discontinuous trough for rotation therewith for receiving the water from said stationary water supply means, said continuous trough having apertures through a wall thereof for delivering water therefrom to said discontinuout trough, said apertures coinciding with the extent of said discontinuous trough; and means movable about said ice forming element for removing congealed water therefrom, said means being mounted in the area of discontinuity of said discontinuous circular trough.

2. In ice making apparatus, the combination of a vertical, stationary, substantially cylindrical ice forming element; stationary means for supplying water to be frozen on said ice forming element; means rotatable about said ice forming element for removing ice therefrom; and means for distributing the water to be frozen over the surface of said ice forming element comprising, a discontinuous, substantially circular, water delivery trough mounted above said ice forming element for rotation with said ice removing means, said trough being discontinuous at said ice removing means for distributing a traveling curtain of water over said outer surface of said ice forming element, except at said ice removing means, a continuous, substantially circular trough mounted above said discontinuous trough for rotation therewith for receiving the water from said stationary water supply means, said continuous trough having apertures through a wall thereof for delivering Water therefrom to said discontinuous trough, said apertures coinciding with the extent of said discontinuous trough.

3. In ice making apparatus, the combination of a vertical, stationary shaft, a vertical substantially cylindrical ice forming element locked to said shaft; ice removing means mounted on said shaft and rotatable about said ice forming element for removing ice therefrom; means for distributing water to be frozen over the outer surface of said ice forming element comprising, a discontinuous, substantially circular, water delivery trough mounted above said ice forming element for rotation with said ice removing means, said trough being discontinuous at said ice removing means for distributing a traveling curtain of water over said outer surface of said ice forming element, a continuous, substantially circular trough mounted above said discontinuos trough for rotation therewith, said contiuous trough having apertures through a wall thereof for delivering water therefrom to said discontinuous trough, said apertures coinciding with the extent of said discontinuous trough; and stationary means for supplying water to said continuous trough, whereby said water may be continuously supplied by said stationary water supply means without said water being delivered to that portion of said ice forming element, on which an ice removal operation is taking place.

4. In ice making apparatus, the combination of a vertical, stationary, substantially cylindrical ice forming element; means for distributing water to be frozen over the outer surface of said ice forming element in the form 'of a traveling curtain comprising, a discontinuous, substantially circular, water delivery trough mounted'for r0- tation above said ice forming element, a continuous, substantially circular trough mounted above said discontin-nous trough for rotation therewith, said continuous trough having apertures through a wall thereof for -delivering water therefrom to said discontinuous trough, said apertures coinciding with the extent of said discontinuous trough; and stationary means for supplying water to be frozen on said ice forming element comprising, a water sump mounted beneath said ice forming element, means for adding make-up water to said sump to replace water frozen on said ice forming element, means for flowing excess water from said ice forming element to said sump, and pump means for delivering water from said sump to said continuous trough.

5. In ice making apparatus, the combination of a vertical, stationary shaft, a vertical, substantially cylindrical ice forming element locked to said shaft; means for distributing water to be frozen over the outer surface of said ice forming element in the form of a traveling curtain comprising, a discontinuous, substantially circular, water delivery trough mounted for rotation above said ice forming element, a continuous, substantially circular trough mounted above said discontinuous trough for rotation therewith, said continuous trough having apertures through a wall thereof for delivering water therefrom to said discontinuous trough, said apertures coinciding with the extent of said discontinuous trough; and stationary means for supplying water to be frozen on said ice forming element comprising, a water receiving tray mounted on said shaft beneath said ice forming element for receiving excess water therefrom, said shaft having an aperture through a wall thereof for discharging water received by said tray into the interior of said shaft, a water sump mounted beneath said shaft for receiving said discharged water, and pump means for delivering water from said sump to said continuous trough.

6. In ice making apparatus, the combination of a vertical shaft assembly, means locking said shaft assembly against rotatable movement, a vertical, substantially cylindrical ice forming element mounted on and attached to said vertical shaft assembly, means for distributing water to be frozen over the outer surface of said ice forming element, means for removing the ice from said outer surface of said ice forming element, a water receiving tray of greater extent than said ice forming ele ment mounted on said shaft assembly and beneath said ice forming element for receiving any excess of water draining therefrom, said shaft assembly having an aperture through a wall thereof adjacent said tray for discharging said excess water received by said tray into the interior of said shaft assembly, a water sump mounted beneath said shaft assembly for receiving said discharged water, means for supplying make-up water to said sump, and a liquid pump for delivering water from said sump to said water distributing means.

7. In ice making apparatus, the combination of a vertical shaft assembly, a vertical, substantially cylindrical ice forming element mounted on said shaft assembly, a plate closing the bottom of said ice forming element for receiving any condensate from the inner surface thereof, means for distributing water to be frozen over the outer surface of said ice forming element, means for removing the ice from said outer surface of said ice forming element, a water receiving tray mounted on said shaft assembly and beneath said ice forming element for receiving any excess of water therefrom, an arcuate shield within said shaft assembly providing a water flow passage and a condensate flow passage, said shaft assembly having a first aperture through a wall thereof for draining the excess Water received by said tray into said water flow passage, said shaft assembly having a second aperture through a wall thereof for draining the condensate received by said plate into said condensate flow passage,

7 a condensate receiving tray mounted on said shaft assembly, said shaft "assembly having a third aperture through a wall thereof communicating said condensate a'eceiving tray with said condensate flow passage, a water sump mounted beneath said shaft assembly for receiving said excess water from said water flow passage, and a .liquid pump for delivering water from said sump to said water distributing means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Albright July 13, 1954 Ostrom Nov. 19, 1957 Kocher June 3, 1958 Taylor Nov. 18, 1958 UNITED STATES PATENT 01* FICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,959,033 November 8, 1960 Francis M Raver It is hereby certified that error appears in the. above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent. should read as corrected below.

Col umn 3, line 70, after "13" insert ice Signedand sealed this 31st day of October 1961.,

' (SEA L) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents USCOMM-DC 

